Syria to Assad: What really counts for the new tour!

Syria to Assad: What really counts for the new tour!

The future of Syria is not decided by hand shakes!

What an outcry in the western media! The visit of Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her French colleague Jean-Noel Barrot in Damascus had the waves hit. On January 3. they met the interim Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, just a few weeks after the fall of the brutal Baath regime by President Bashar al-Assad. But instead of concentrating on the pressing topics that affect Syria, such as stability, economic recovery and the refugee crisis, attention was drawn to a supposed "insult": Al-Sharaa welcomed Baerbock only with a nod and a smile, not with a handshake!

The western media made a huge drama out of this little incident. A comment in politico even described the Handshake question as a new "litmus test" for the "moderation" of Muslim leaders. How absurd! It is implied that male Muslim leaders should be forced to shake women their hand, regardless of their religious beliefs. Where's respect for cultural norms?

The reality of the Syrian population

While the media deal with such minorities, the Syrian population suffers from the consequences of a 13 -year civil war and 61 years of authoritarian rule. Over 50 percent of Syrians are currently displaced, and more than 90 percent live below the poverty line. Food, water and electricity are extremely scarce, unemployment is high and the economy is on the ground.

The traumatic experiences are unimaginable. Many Syrians have lost family members or friends through the brutal regime of Al-Assad. Stories of torture and repression are the order of the day. People have enough of the tyranny and long for a fresh start, democracy and freedom. Your "Litmus test" for the new leadership is not whether men shake hands, but whether they are able to lead the country into a peaceful and wealthy future.

A call for reflection

The Western media should ask themselves why they consider their own cultural values as universal and dismiss other standards as extremely. Anthropologist Lila Abu-Lughod has in her book "Do Muslim Women Need Saving?" pointed out that the West often assumes that its culture is the yardstick for all companies. But reality looks different: Muslims and Arabs have the right to live their religious values, even if they contradict western expectations.

If the western media really want to understand what is going on in Syria, you should listen to the Syrians and not try to impose their own standards. People in Syria have a clear vision for their future - a future shaped by peace, stability and justice. It is time for the media to hear and respect these voices!

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial attitude of Al Jazera.

-transmitted by West-Ost-Medien